Welcome to Vancouver's premier veterinary hospital conveniently located in Kitsilano and easily accessible from downtown
At Arbutus West Animal Clinic, we understand the unique needs of cats and kittens. Our experienced veterinarians provide comprehensive and compassionate care for your feline friends, including routine check-ups, vaccinations, and preventative care.
We offer a range of services to keep your cat healthy and happy, including dental care, parasite prevention, and nutritional counseling. Whether your cat is a kitten or a senior, we prioritize their well-being and strive to provide personalized care tailored to their individual needs. Trust us to provide top-notch veterinary care for your beloved feline companion at every stage of their life.
For Our Feline Friends
Vaccines
Vaccines are essential to your cat's health, we offer all core vaccines! These vaccines can cost you as little as $40 each and can be paired with your annual wellness exam.
FVRCP
The FVRCP vaccine is an effective way to protect your cat against 3 highly contagious and life-threatening feline diseases, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (that's the FVR part of the vaccine name), Feline Calicivirus (represented by the C), and Feline Panleukopenia (the P at the end of the vaccine name
Rabies
Rabies is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. The first vaccine is given when the puppy reaches 16 weeks old. A booster shot is necessary after 1 year, then every 3rd year following that.
Feline Leukemia
​Although the FeLV vaccine is not considered a core vaccine in adult indoor cats, it is highly recommended for cats that spend time outdoors.
Annual Checkups
The American Veterinary Association suggests regular kitten and cat wellness exams for the same reasons physicians and dentists recommend them. Early detection of any health issues leads to easier and more cost-effective treatments, and better outcomes. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Dental
We offer comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment also known as a COHAT. This procedure includes cleaning, prophylaxis, X-rays, and extractions, to help prevent the onset of dental disease.
What you need to know
Dental cleaning should be a part of every cat and dog's life, and it should only be done by a veterinarian. Here is a deep dive into why dental care is important, how it is done, and how it can be done wrong. Cat and Dog dental cleaning is probably the most common procedure performed on pets.
A step by step walk through
Watch a walkthrough of a cat dental cleaning. Featuring Sir Lancelot and the Arbutus West Animal Clinic team! This is a rare chance to get a look behind the scenes at one of the most common animal health procedures in the world.
Diets
Our clinic provides specialized veterinary diets from top brands such as Royal Canin Veterinary Exclusive, Hill's Prescription Diet, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, and Rayne Nutrition which are not available at local pet stores. Our medical experts will collaborate with you to design a tailored diet plan that meets your pet's specific requirements for optimal health and well-being. We are committed to ensuring that your pet feels at ease and has the highest quality of life achievable.
Neuter and Spay
Neutering and spaying are surgical procedures in which a veterinarian removes a male cat's testicles or a female cat's ovaries and uterus, respectively. These procedures can reduce the risk of certain health problems, prevent behavioral issues, and help control the population of homeless dogs. They are typically performed under anesthesia and have a relatively quick recovery time.
Laparoscopic Spay
The laparoscopic spay procedure is a specialized type of surgery using fibre optic cameras and specialized instruments to perform surgery through incisions that create only a 0.3-1.5 cm hole in the body wall. The risk of infection and complications is lower with this technique than with traditional surgery. More importantly, pain and healing time is reduced, with most patients experiencing little to no discomfort the next day and total incision healing reduced to only seven days, versus the usual 14 days for a traditional spay. On top of a speedy recovery, the risk for surgical and post-surgical complications is reduced significantly. We want to offer our patients the most pain-free options whenever we can.
Traditional Spay
With a traditional spay, an incision is made into the abdomen in order for the surgeon to be able to access the uterus and ovaries. This incision needs to be large enough for the surgeon to visualize organs at the back of the abdominal cavity and reach their hand in to retrieve them. The ovaries are then loosened from their attachments to the body wall, their vessels ligated, and are removed. The incision in the abdomen is closed with several layers of suture. Because there has been a large incision through the abdominal musculature, there is often some degree of swelling and discomfort associated with the procedure. Exercise is restricted for several weeks.
Flea and Tick
Flea and tick medication is a common and effective preventative measure against fleas and ticks in cats. These medications can come in various forms, including pills and topical treatments. They work by killing fleas and ticks on contact or disrupting their life cycle. It's important to use the appropriate medication for your dog's size and weight, as well as following the instructions carefully to ensure their safety and effectiveness.